So, if you want to read my thoughts on the difficulties of being a cinephile AND a genre fan, or if you just want to see how many titles I could name drop in seven paragraphs, click on this writing right here and go check it out.

In the meantime, I'll be back tonight with the 20th(!) Midnight Movie of the Week. If that's not exciting enough, here's what You Tube calls the "best fight scene of all time".

Genre fiction makes up the bulk of my reading as well, and I am well aware of the perception that it is easier to write because it comes with a formula. As genre lovers know, however, the formula is a huge challenge in itself.

It takes real skill to use pretty much the same elements everyone else uses and still come up with something completely new. That's why there are so many genre duds. But you're right that when a great genre book or movie manages to transcend its formula, it doesn't go on to get the recognition it deserves.

PS--Not that I've felt "neglected" or anything, but I think you might like to know that the voting round of my Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie Smackdown, which you did seem to be enjoying, has finally begun! ;)